I attempt to control my breathing because I do not want him to notice how much his touch affects me.“To love you hurts, Tobias…” I whisper, turning my head to the side. “Tell me that love is enough. Tell me that loving you will get easier and that we will always be here for one another, regardless of what happens between us?” I ask him, but it comes out more like a plea.I watch his shoulders sag as Tobias takes a large step back from me, his eyes blazing with unrecognisable emotions and his nostrils flare. “Love is meant to hurt, spitfire.” He calmly speaks. “If you don’t fight for your love, then what kind of love do you have?”I bow my head and peer down at my hands, which are slightly trembling. “No…” I whisper, shaking my head, unable to agree with him. “Love isn’t meant to hurt, Tobias. Love is meant to make you feel safe. When you willingly give your heart to someone, that someone is supposed to be your home.”Slowly, I lift my head and look at him.Tobias appears before me, i

I roll over, sighing as every muscle in my body screams out with discomfort, reminding me of the multiple ways Tobias took me last night; all night long. Reaching out, I feel for him, but I’m met with nothing but air. I pry my sleepy eyes open to find his side of the bed empty and cold, and a pang of disappointment licks my flesh.“Tobias?” I groan in my early morning voice which is a little croaky.Lifting my head, I look around the room and scoff when I realise there is none of his belongings left behind in the room. Not even a loose thread that lost its way.It’s like last night didn’t happen.Like the out-of-body experience, I endured time after time, was all but a dream…I sit up, leaning my back against the headboard, and I pull the sheet up around my chest—clinging to it like it’s my lifeline. Extending my left hand out, I look at the rings that adorn my wedding finger with my head tilted to the side.‘Is this how things will be between us?’ I think to myself as a lump begins

I look around the bakery after the morning rush finally ends, and I make my way to the front of the shop to clean up. The phone call I received earlier from Mr. Jameson has somewhat left me shaking with anger, annoyance, disbelief… maybe, gratitude, a misunderstanding?I’m not quite sure how I feel, to be honest. I suppose I need a little more time to try to digest and dissect the news about me no longer being broke and that the bakery is now debt free too, which also means my suppliers have been paid in full as well.Mr. Jameson informed me that Tobias deposited a large sum of money into my business account this morning and that we won’t need to file for bankruptcy like he feared we would have had to do two weeks ago.Is it wrong for me to be sensitive about the fact that Tobias chose to deposit the money into the account this morning? Especially, after we spent the night in each other's arms while he whispered sweet nothing into my ear until I fell asleep?Because I truly don’t wan

While seated at the table, I push my food around the plate. It's safe to say that I've lost my appetite after seeing Ava, and I can't seem to shake the terrified expression that was embedded in her eyes when Chase violently grabbed her.Even though I am angry with her, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked while pregnant. Despite the fact that she appeared to have not slept in days, she had a radiant glow that I would kill for. She also appeared to have lost some weight.I wonder if she is eating enough.Maybe I should drop some food off to her tomorrow after I lock up at the bakery. I won’t stay for a chit-chat, just drop the food off and leave. At least this way, I know that both Ava and her unborn child are getting the nutrients they require.“Last time I checked, you were a huge fan of Asian cuisine,” Tobias says in a concerned tone as he breaks through my train of thought. I place my fork down on the table next to my plate and I pick up my wine glass, “I’m sorry,

I stir in my sleep from the soft touch of Tobias pressing his warm lips against my forehead.“Mmm, what time is it?” I yawn, feeling like I had just fallen asleep moments ago.“It’s four in the morning,” He whispers, stroking my cheek with the pad of his thumb, which sends a ripple of goosebumps to disperse across my body.I love it when he touches me with affection.I doubt he will ever understand how much it means to me, not only because he is a man, but how can I expect him to understand when I, myself, am trying to find a reason behind my emotions? “Four in the morning?” I moan in a croaky voice, peeling my eyelids open. “What are you doing up and dressed at this time of the morning?”Tobias is seated on the edge of my bed with his body angled to the side. Every time I see him wearing one of my favourite hued, slim-fitting suits, my mouth waters.The colour indigo-blue accentuates his irises, and the tailored suit emphasizes his ripped physique beneath all of that expensive fabri